EVERETT — Spencer Gerth walked into the Everett Silvertips’ dressing room Thursday morning, looked around and knew he was home.
“It was odd. It felt like I had never left, in a weird way,” Gerth said. “It was really cool. When I got traded last year, it’s a little bit awkward when you go into a new team and don’t know anyone. But it felt comfortable (Thursday).”
Gerth wasn’t the splashiest of Everett general manager Garry Davidson’s deadline-week acquisitions, but the deal involving the 6-foot-3, 200-pound forward was unique.
In November of 2016, the Silvertips traded the Langley, British Columbia, native to the Victoria Royals for a seventh-round pick in the 2018 bantam draft. Last Wednesday, Gerth was traded back to Everett — for the same seventh-round bantam pick.
He is believed to be the first player in franchise history to be traded away and then traded back to Everett.
“I played my first WHL game here, scored my first WHL goal here, so it’s obviously cool,” Gerth said. “I’m really thankful for playing in Victoria. It was an awesome place to play, but that being said, it looks like I’m meant to be a Silvertip. I’m really excited to be here and really looking forward to getting the second half of the season going and moving into the playoffs.”
Gerth is one of six new faces to join the Tips’ roster since Jan. 1. The group includes forwards Ethan O’Rourke, Garrett Pilon and Bronson Sharp, and defenseman Ondrej Vala and Jameson Murray. That’s nearly a quarter of the 25 players currently listed on Everett’s roster.
Each of the newly acquired players serves a different role and that’s something the coaching staff will iron out in the coming weeks. Gerth, O’Rourke and Sharp were brought in to add forward depth, while Murray was acquired to add depth on the blue line.
Pilon and Vala were picked up to immediately make an impact and had appeared in two games prior to Sunday’s contest at Portland.
“It’s still a feeling-out process,” head coach Dennis Williams said following Wednesday’s 4-0 home victory over the Tri-City Americans. “Some guys are asked to play some different roles and we’ll probably sit down as as staff and some of the players about how their role may change a little bit. Not too drastic, but just so we’re clear (and) we’re all on the same page.”
Pilon debuted Wednesday by centering Everett’s top line between Matt Fonteyne and Patrick Bajkov. Pilon played wing on the second line with Riley Sutter and Connor Dewar during Saturday’s 5-2 win at Spokane.
Vala, a left-handed shot, has paired with Wyatte Wylie on the second pairing in both games he’s played.
The early returns on Pilon and Vala are positive. Pilon recorded a hat trick in Saturday’s win at Spokane. Vala added an assist on Pilon’s first goal. Pilon now has 21 goals and 26 assists in 41 games with Everett and Kamloops. Vala has seven goals and 14 assists in 33 games.
As for Gerth? He had three goals and three assists in 43 games with Victoria this year. But more importantly he adds size and strength to Everett’s forward group. In fact, he was given a game misconduct in his final game with the Royals a week ago when he fought new teammate and roommate Ian Walker.
“It’s funny how it works out,” Gerth said. “The last game I played (for Victoria) was against (Everett). And I’m now a Silvertip.”
For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
